Emily G. Jacobs

Emily G. Jacobs is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She holds affiliations with the UCSB Neuroscience Program and the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Dynamical Neuroscience. Her research focuses on the interplay between hormonal fluctuations and brain structure/function, particularly in contexts like pregnancy, menopause, and reproductive aging. Jacobs received her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and B.A. from Smith College, with prior roles including Instructor at Harvard Medical School.

Her lab's work emphasizes precision neuroimaging to study hormonal impacts on cognition and brain health, with notable projects such as the Maternal Brain Project and the "28 and Me" study. Awards include the Brain and Behavior Young Investigator Award (2018) and National Academy of Sciences Frontiers of Science Fellowship (2017). Jacobs advocates for gender diversity in science, including K-12 STEM outreach highlighted in the book STEMinists.

Key research interests include neuroendocrinology, spatial navigation, and the effects of hormonal contraceptives. Her lab collaborates with institutions like UCSD and UCI, leveraging grants from NIH, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and others. Recent publications address neuroanatomical changes in pregnancy, menstrual cycle impacts on brain networks, and the role of telomere length in early aging.